Filter in domestic appliance



Feb- 21, 1967 R. M. BRUBAKER ETAL 3,305,093

FILTER IN DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1963 r. TM ae N SW m Rrb/ //r wmou .w mm. e wdEm w 2d .new .wwm RR? WY Feb- 21, 1967 R. M. BRUBAKER ETAL 3,305,093

FILTER IN DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS` Richard' 272 z'ua/(er Rober) rualfer 71Yeodore 0. Surud THE/R ATTORNE Y United States Patent O 3,305,093 FTLTER IN DGMESTIC APPLIANCE Richard M. Brubaker, Dayton, Robert F. Brubaker, Eaton,

and Theodore O. Stutrud, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,579 8 Claims. (Cl. 210-108) This invention relates to a clothes washer of the re- Circulating type and more particularly to an improved lint filtering and check valve arrangement therefor.

One type of domestic Clothes washer includes a perforated spin basket disposed within a fixed Water container through which Washing fiuid or Water is recirculated throughout the clothes washing Cycle for removing lint and the like a filter being provided in the path of circulation for this purpose. Periodically, during the Clothes washing cycle, the recirculation of Wash water is terminated and the dirty water is pumped to drain-the filter being backwashed in response to the draining operation. This invention is directed to an improved arrangement for filtering lint or the like from Wash water during recirculation thereof in one direction and, in response to a change in the direction of circulation, for controlling the fiow of Wash water to drain and for Cleaning the filter.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combination fiow control and lint filtering device for a recirculating type Clothes washer.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved lint filtering device for a recirculating Clothes washer wherein said lint filtering is self-cleaning.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a lint filtering device for a recirculating type Clothes washer having a reversible pump, said lint filtering device including a pump fiow responsive check valve means for controlling the backwashing thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a lrecrculating type clothes washer provided with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a Central sectional view of the combination fiow control and lint filtering device of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 1, a recirculating type clothes washer is illustrated. The Clothes washer 10 is 12 having on a top wall 14 thereof -a control housing or console 16. The casing 12 encloses a stationary water container 18 in which a perforated spin basket 20 is rotatably mounted. Within the spin basket 20 is an agtator 22-both the agtator 22 and the spin basket 20 being actuated through an agitating -and spinning mechansm shown generally at 26. The mechanism 26 may be of the type taught in the patent to Sisson 2,758,685 issued August 14, 1956, including a 'reversible motor 28 drivably connected to a motion translatng portion 30 which, when rotated in one direction, Will cause the agtator 22 to vertically reciprocate, and which, when rotated in the opposite direction, Will Cause the spin basket 29 to rotate within the water container 18 to Centrifuge the Wash water from the Clothes. The mechanism 26 is yieldably carried on a flexible hat-like member 32. This hat-like member is supported from the bottom of the casing by a support provided with a casing 33055093 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 stand 34 and is 'connected at its top to the bottom Wall 36 of the water container 18. An initial fill of Wash water is provided by a conventional fill valve arrangement 38 which includes a conduit 40 leading to the top opening of the spin basket. A common level of water will exist iu the water container 18 and the perforated spin basket 20.

The bottom wall 36 of the Water container 18 is provided with a downwardly spiralling or volute shaped Channel 46 along the outer periphery thereof terminating in the water container outlet 48. The direction of swirl or spiral on the water container bottom is downwardly in the direction of spin for the basket 20. Thus, when the tub 20 is spun to centrifuge the Water from the Clothes therein, the swirl imparted to the centrifuging water will be a-ccelerated by the downward spiral of the water container bottom, thereby to cause thewater to be rammed into the drain outlet 48 from the water container. This prevents the water which is being pumped to drain from bypassing the drain outlet in the water container.

The Clothes washer 10 is provided With a recrculating Wash water system which will now be described. A rev versible pump 50 of conventional two directional fiow design is positioned on the lower end of the motor shaft 52 of the reversible motor 28. The pump is connected by means of a pump conduit 54 to the water container outlet 48 and by means of a pump conduit 56 to a 'combination check valve and lint filter assembly 58- a filter conduit 60 completing the Circuit from the assembly 58 to a take-oilc or filter inlet fitting 62 in the lower sidewall of the water container below the normal water level in the water container. Note that the take-off fitting 62 is disposed in the water container on the opposite side thereof from the drain Outlet 48. When the pump is Operating in the recirculation direction, this creates a dametrical sweep of the tub bottom from one side of the water container to the other as Water enters the take-off fitting 62 and is returned by way of the check valve and lint filter assembly 58 and conduits 54, 56 to the tub opening 48. Lint and the like is thus swept into the filtering system. Whenever it is desired to direct the Wash water to a drain line 66, the motor 28, and thus the pump, is reversed the check valve and lint filter assembly 58 automatically Controlling a valving arrangement to set up drain.

The combination check valve and lint filter assembly 58 will now ybe described with reference to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The assembly 58 is comprised of a rather cylindrical check valve and lint filter housing 70 of acrylonitrile styrene or the like. An integral drain outlet stub 72 is provided along the side thereof and the ends of the housing are adapted to receive and be closed by a check valve cover 74 at the top thereof and a lint screen cover '76 at the bottom thereof. A suitable check valve gasket 78 and lint screen gasket 80 may be provided as sealing means between the respective covers and the ends of the housing. A recirculation inlet collar or stub 82 is formed in the check valve cover 74 and adapted to receive the filter conduit 60 leading to the water container take-off fitting 62. On the other hand, the lint screen cover 76 is provided with a recirculation outlet collar or stub fitting 84 to which the pump conduit 56 is connected.

Within the housing 70 and resting on the lint screen Cover 76 is a filter means shown generally at 86. The filter means 86 is comprised of -a nylon screen subassembly 88 including a frusto conical section of nylon mesh 90 embedded at op-posite ends in elastomeric molded vinyl washers 92 and 96, this screen element being supported upright 'by a lint screen retainer 98 of acrylonitrile styrene. The retainer 98 is no more than four T-shaped legs 100 at quadrant points to spread the 'nylon mesh and to hold the washer 92 in a position wherein the top surface 102 thereof is generally at right angles to the axis of the housing 70. Note that the washer 92 of the filter screen assernbly 88 includes a backwash bypass port 104 which will be described more fully hereinafter. The filter means 86 is retained in stationary sealing relationship to the housing 76) by an annular lint assembly seal retainer 198 which. lockingly overlies and circumscribes the screen washer 96. The 'housing 7d is provided with an annular shoulder 110 which bears against one side of the retainer '138 sandwiching it and the washer 96 between the housing 70 and the lint screen cover 76 in sealing engageiment. Thus, fluid which flows from the recirculation inlet 32 to the recirculation outlet 84 with the bachwash port 1M closed by a check valve 114 (to =be described next following), is caused to pass through the screen assembly S8 for filtering lint and the like therefrom.

The check valve portion of the check valve and lint filter 'assembly 58 will now be described. Within the housi'ng 70 and between the recirculation inlet 82 and the filter means .86 is a generally circular, water-like check valve 114. The check valve is configured along a major portion of its periphery substantially like the interior of the housing 70, being provided with just sufficient clearance to permit the check valve to move between an upper drain position against the check valve cover 74' and a lower recirculation position (as shown) against the filter means 86. The check valve 114 has a notch or cutout portion 116 to provide a bypass means around the check valve only When it is in its recirculation position. A raised boss 117 on the inside of the .housing coop-erates with the sides of the notch 116 to guide the check valve in its reciprocable movernent. Further, the check valve includes a blocking portion which has a flat recirculation inlet blocking face v118 and a curved drain outlet blocking face 126. It should be seen that the check valve 114 in its lower position blocks the outlet 72 from the housing 70 and opens the recirculation inlet 82. Conversely, when the check valve 114 is in its upper position, the recirculation inlet 82 is blocked and both the drain outlet 72 and the backwash port 104 of the filter means 86 are opened or unblocked.

In operation, the motor 28 is energized in one direction to actuate the pump throughout a clothes Washing 'agitation cycle to draw Wash water from the water container into the take-off fitting 62, through the check valve and lint filter assembly 58 and, by means of pump cond'uits 56 and 54, to return the filtered wash water to the water container opening 48. This recircul'ation continues so long 'as the clothes are being agitated. So long as the pump 50 is Operating to recirculate, the check valve 114 will, in response to the direction of fiuid fiow, seat on to-p of the filter means 86 in a manner to block the bypass port 104 and the drain outlet 72, thereby to cause all of the fiuid fiow to move as shown by the arrows through the filter screen to the recirculation Outlet 84.

When it is desired to drain the dirty wash water from the clothes washer, the motor 28 'and the pump G are reversed. The wash water is then pumped from the water container by way of the opening 48 and the pump conduits 54 and 56 to the fitting 84 on the bottom of the check valve and lint filter assembly 58. The pressure of the reversed fiuid flow will cause the check valve 114 to move upwardly against the check valve cover 74 in a manner whereby the valve surface 118 will close the re- |circulation inlet 82 while the valve surface 120 is opening the drain outlet 72 and the bottorn of the valve is opening the bypass port 194. In this raised valve relationship, the was/h water will be pumped to the drain conduit 66 with one portion thereof passing through the bypass port 134 to release large objects and 'another portion thereof passing through the screen 88 in the reverse direction to clean the filter. Soiled wash water passing reversely through the screen will backwash the lint from the opposite surface thereof and this lint will be carried into the drain line 66. Moreover, the uncovered bypass port 104 in the filter means is effective to ipermit large objects, such as buttons or the like, to be pumped to drain without clogging either the pump or the filter means. In this regard, the bypass port 1M is designed with enough resistance to fluid flow that Wash water will backwash the screen 83 from inside to outside in a sufiicient quantity to remove the lint or the like t-herefrorn.

It should now be seen that an improved combination check valve and lint filter device has been provided for a recirc'ulating type washing apparatus, said device being pump flow direction responsive for effecting either filtering or both drain and filter backwas-hing.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1` In combination with a clothes washing tub adapted to contain fiuid and having a first opening in the bottom thereof, a second opening in the side thereof farthest from said first opening and beneath the level of said fluid and means operable for elfecting fiuid fiow in opposite directions between said openings,

(a) a check valve and lint filter assembly comprising (b) means forming a housing having a reci-rculation inlet connected to said second opening, a recirculation outlet connected to said first opening and a drain outlet adapted to be connected to a sewer,

(c) a lcheck valve means in said housing comprising a blocking portion guida-bly mounted in a Chamber of said housing and bodily slidable in response to the direction of fiuid flow between a recirculation position wherein said recirculation inlet is unblocked and said drain outlet is 'blocked and a drain position wherein said drain outlet is unblocked and said recirculation inlet is blocked,

(d) said check valve means having bypass means through which said recirculation inlet is placed in communication with said recircuiation outlet when said blocking portion of the check valve means is in said recirculation position,

(e) said recirculation outlet being placed in communication with said drain outlet When said blocking portion is in said drain position,

(f) and filter means in said cham'ber and in fiuid flow intercepting relationship between said recirculation invlet and said recirculation outlet for filtering lint or the like from fiuid fiowing from said tub when said fiuid is flowing in one direction and said blocking portion is in said recirculation position,

(g) said filter means being in fluid fiow intercepting rel'ationship 'between said recirculation outlet and said drain outlet for back-washing the lint or the like from said filter means when said fluid is fiowing from said tub in the opposite direction and said blocking portion is in said drain position,

(h) said filter means including a screen element defining at opposite ends thereof respectively a first port connected to said recirculation outlet and a second port in the path of said blocking `portion of the check valve means,

(i) said blocking portion in its recirculation position blocking said second port for causing all of the fiuid flowing from said tub when said fiuid is fiowing in one direction to pass through said screen element, and said blocking portion in its drain position unblocking said second port for bypassng directly to said drain outlet those objects too large to pass through the the screen element when Vsaid fiuid is owing from said tub in the opposite direction,

(j) said second part having a sufficient resistance to fiuid fiow in said opposite direction to cause a suflicient quantity of fiuid to pass through said screen element in a backwash direction to backwash the filtered |lint or the like from said screen element.

Z. The combination of claim 1 including a boss on said housing coopera'ble with the bypass means of said check valve means for guiding said check valve means between said positions.

3. The combination of clam 1 wherein said screen element includes a frusto-conical tube of nylon mesh embedded at one end in a first washer forming said first port and em'bedded at the other end in a second washer forming said second port, said screen element further including a support for spreading said nylon mesh and for spacing said second washer from said first washer in a manner to support said check valve means in said recirculation position.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sliding of said check valve means from said recirculation position to said drain position is fluid flow direction responsive and the sliding of said -check valve means from said drain position to said recirculation position is gravity responsive.

5. In combination with a tub adapted to contain fluid and having a first opening in one portion thereof, a second opening in another portion thereof beneath the level of said fluid and means operable for elfecting fluid fiow in opposite directions between said openings, a check valve and filter assembly comprising means forming a housing having a recirculation inlet connected to said second opening, a recirculation outlet connected to said first opening and a drain outlet adapted to be connected to a sewer, check valve means in said housing comprising a valve portion mounted in a chamber of said housing and lbodily slidable in response to the direction of fluid fiow 'between a recirculation position wherein said recirculation inlet is open and said drain outlet is closed and a drain position wherein said drain outlet is open and said recirculation inlet is closed, lbypass means through which said recirculation inlet is placed in communication with said recirculation outlet when said valve portion of the check valve means is in said recirculation position, said recirculation outlet being placed in communication with said drain outlet when said valve portion is in said drain position, and filter means in said chamber in fluid fiow intercepting relationship between said recirculation inlet and said recirculation outlet for filtering particulate matter or the like from fluid flowing from said tub when said fluid is flowing in one direction and said valve portion is in said recirculation position, said filter means being in fluid flow intercepting relationship between said recirculation outlet and said drain outlet for backwashing the particulate matter or the like from said filter means when said fluid is flowing from said tub in the opposite direction and said valve portion is in said drain postion, said filter means including a screen element defining a first port connected to said recirculation outlet and a second port in the 'path of said valve portion of the check valve means, said valve portion in its recirculation position closing said second port for causing fluid flowing from said tub when said fluid is flowing in one direction to pass through said screen element, and said valve portion in its drain position opening said second port for bypassing directly to said drain outlet those objects too large to pass through the screen element when said fluid is flowing from said tube in the opposite direction, said second port having a sufiicient resistance to fluid fiow in said opposite direction to cause a suflicient quantity of fluid to pass through said screen element in a backwash direction to backwash the filtered particulate matter or the like from said screen element.

6. A check valve and lint filter assembly comprising means formng a housing having a recirculation inlet adapted to receive fluid flowing in one direction for filtering the fluid, a recirculation -outlet adapted to supply the filtered fluid when said fluid is flowing in said one direction and adapted to receive fluid flowing in a reverse direction and a drain outlet adapted to be connected to a sewer, a check valve means in said housing comprising a 'blocking portion guidably mounted a chamber of said housing and bodily slidable in response to the direction of fluid fiow between a filter position wherein said recirculation inlet is unblocked and said drain outlet is blocked and a drain position wherein said drain outlet is unblocked and said recirculation inlet is blocked, said check valve means having bypass means through which said recirculation inlet is placed in communication with said recirculation Outlet When said blocking poriton of the check valve means is in said filter position, said recirculation outlet being placed in communication with said drain outlet when said blocking portion is in said drain position, and filter means in said chamber in fluid fiow intercepting relationship between said recirculation inlet and said recirculation outlet for filtering lint or the like from fluid when said fluid is flowing in said one direction and said blocking portion is in said filter position, said filter means being in fluid flow intercepting relationship 'between said recirculation outlet and said drain outlet for 'backwashing the lint or the like from said filter means when said fluid is flowing in said reverse direction and said 'blocking portion is in said drain position, said filter means including a frusto-conical screen element defining at opposite ends thereof a first port connected to said recirculation outlet and a second port in the path of said blocking portion of the check valve means, said blocking portion in its filter position 'blocking said second port for causing all of the fluid flowing in said one direction to pass through said screen element, and said blocking portion in its drain position unblocking said second port for bypassing directly to said drain outlet those objects too large to pass through the screen element when said fluid is flowing in said reverse direction, said second port having a suflicient resistance to fluid fiow in said reverse direction to cause a sufiicient quantity of fluid to pass through said screen element in a backwash direction to backwash the filtered lint or the like from said screen element.

7. A fiow control device compn'sing in combination, means forming a housing having a first opening adapted to receive fluid, a second opening adapted to receive and dispense fluid and a third opening adapted to dispense fluid, filter means interposed in said housing in one manner of fiow between said first and second openings for filtering fluid and in another manner of fiow between said second and third openings for cleaning said filter means, said filter means configured to provide a bypass port in communication with said second opening, said bypass port and said first and third openings being in a chamber of said housing, and check valve means bodily movable as a unit in said chamber :between a filter position and a drain position, said check valve means being so constructed that in said filter position it closes said bypass port and said third opening and including means effective in said filter position for establishing communication between said first and second openings when said filter means is interposed in said one manner, and said check valve means being so constructed that in said drain position it closes said first opening and opens said bypass port and said third opening for establishing communication between said second and third openings through said bypass port and said filter means when said filter means is interposed in said another manner.

8. The fiow control device of clam 7 wherein the movement of said check valve means is fluid fiow responsive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,l34,385 10/1938 Winslow 210-411 X 3,220,553 11/1965 Growall 210-136 X FOREIGN PATENTS 27,581 1/ 1915 Great Britain.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examner. F. W. MEDLEY, Assistant Examner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CLOTHES WASHING TUB ADAPTED TO CONTAIN FLUID AND HAVING A FIRST OPENING IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, A SECOND OPENING IN THE SIDE THEREOF FARTHEST FROM SAID FIRST OPENING AND BENEATH THE LEVEL OF SAID FLUID AND MEANS OPERABLE FOR EFFECTING FLUID FLOW IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS BETWEEN SAID OPENINGS, (A) A CHECK VALVE AND LINT FILTER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING (B) MEANS FORMING A HOUSING HAVING A RECIRCULATION INLET CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND OPENING, A RECIRCULATION OUTLET CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST OPENING AND A DRAIN OUTLET ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SEWER, (C) A CHECK VALVE MEANS IN SAID HOUSING COMPRISING A BLOCKING PORTION GUIDABLY MOUNTED IN A CHAMBER OF SAID HOUSING AND BODILY SLIDABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLUID FLOW BETWEEN A RECIRCULATION POSITION WHEREIN SAID RECIRCULATION INLET IS UNBLOCKED AND SAID DRAIN OUTLET IS BLOCKED AND A DRAIN POSITION WHEREIN SAID DRAIN OUTLET IS UNBLOCKED AND SAID RECIRCULATION INLET IS BLOCKED, (D) SAID CHECK VALVE MEANS HAVING BYPASS MEANS THROUGH WHICH SAID RECIRCULATION INLET IS PLACED IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID RECIRCULATION OUTLET WHEN SAID BLOCKING PORTION OF THE CHECK VALVE MEANS IS IN SAID RECIRCULATION POSITION, (E) SAID RECIRCULATION OUTLET BEING PLACED IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DRAIN OUTLET WHEN SAID BLOCKING PORTION IS IN SAID DRAIN POSITION, (F) AND FILTER MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER AND IN FLUID FLOW INTERCEPTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID RECIRCULATION INLET AND SAID RECIRCULATION OUTLET FOR FILTERING LINT OR THE LIKE FROM FLUID FLOWING FROM SAID TUB WHEN SAID FLUID IS FLOWING IN ONE DIRECTION AND SAID BLOCKING PORTION IS IN SAID RECIRCULATION POSITION, (G) SAID FILTER MEANS BEING IN FLUID FLOW INTERCEPTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID RECIRCULATION OUTLET AND SAID DRAIN OUTLET FOR BACK-WASHING THE LINT OR THE LIKE FROM SAID FILTER MEANS WHEN SAID FLUID IS FLOWING FROM SAID TUB IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND SAID BLOCKING PORTION IS IN SAID DRAIN POSITION, 